Outcomes of health information technology utilization in nursing homes: Do implementation processes matter?

We examined several outcomes of health information technology utilization in nursing homes and how the processes used to implement health information technology affected these outcomes. We hypothesized that one type of health information technology, electronic medical records, will improve efficiency and quality-related outcomes, and that the use of effective implementation processes and change leadership strategies will improve these outcomes. We tested these hypotheses by creating an original survey based on the case study literature, which we sent to the top executives of nursing homes in seven US states.

Age and reemployment success after job loss: An integrative model and meta-analysis.

Despite widespread popular concern about what it means to be over 40 and unemployed, little attention has been paid in the literature to clarifying the role of age within the job seeking experience. Extending theory, we propose mechanisms by which chronological age affects job search and reemployment outcomes after job loss. Through a meta-analysis and examination of 2 supplemental datasets, we examine 5 questions: (a) How strong is the relationship between age and reemployment speed? (b) Does age disadvantage individuals with respect to other reemployment outcomes? (c) Is the relationship between age and reemployment outcomes mediated by job search activities? (d) Are these relationships generalizable? and (e) Are these relationships linear or curvilinear? Our findings provide evidence for a negative relationship between age and reemployment status and speed across job search decade, world region, and unemployment rate, with the strength of the negative relationship becoming stronger over age 50.

Does empowering resident families or nursing home employees in decision making improve service quality?

This research examines how the empowerment of residents' family members and nursing home employees in managerial decision making is related to service quality. The study was conducted using data from 33 nursing homes in the United States. Surveys were administered to more than 1,000 employees on-site and mailed to the primary-contact family member of each resident.

Treadmill workstations: the effects of walking while working on physical activity and work performance.

We conducted a 12-month-long experiment in a financial services company to study how the availability of treadmill workstations affects employees' physical activity and work performance. We enlisted sedentary volunteers, half of whom received treadmill workstations during the first two months of the study and the rest in the seventh month of the study. Participants could operate the treadmills at speeds of 0-2 mph and could use a standard chair-desk arrangement at will.

Utilization of technology by long-term care providers: comparisons between for-profit and nonprofit institutions.

Objective: We examine ownership differences in the use of technology in long-term care facilities.

Method: We analyze two nationally representative surveys of administrators collected by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC): the 2004 National Nursing Home Survey and the 2010 National Survey of Residential Care Facilities.

Results: We find that nonprofit nursing homes are more likely to use some computerized administrative functions and digital laboratory reports, and report use rates similar to for-profit organizations in other areas of health IT.

Treadmill desks: A 1-year prospective trial.

Objective: Sedentariness is associated with weight gain and obesity. A treadmill desk is the combination of a standing desk and a treadmill that allow employees to work while walking at low speed.

Design And Methods: The hypothesis was that a 1-year intervention with treadmill desks is associated with an increase in employee daily physical activity (summation of all activity per minute) and a decrease in daily sedentary time (zero activity).